From the TBR Pile: Blog Tour: Guest post from Evy Journey , Author of Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond

Friday, February 13, 2026

Blog Tour: Guest post from Evy Journey , Author of Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond

Title: Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond
Author: Evy Journey (with Rich Journey)
Publisher: Independent
Publication Date: October 30, 2025
Pages: 268
Genre: Nonfiction: Art and Travel
Formats: Kindle & Free with Kindle Unlimited

Experience the transformative power of art when you see the rich and vibrant city of Paris through the eyes of a mindful artsy traveler. From the light-inspired grandeur of Gothic cathedrals and the fresh beauty of Impressionism, sinuous forms that speak to our innate sense of beauty, and the rare library that helps one define oneself; to the role of French cuisine and cultural events in shaping the city's uniqueness, this collection of essays will take you on a journey of discovery and self-reflection.

Amidst the charm and allure of Paris and its art, questions arise and conflicts are explored. Can art truly enrich our understanding of life? Can it help extricate us from constantly waging wars? And how does a urinal become a symbol of controversy that challenges our conception of art?

If you enjoyed "A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway, this thought-provoking and sometimes meditative collection of essays will unveil the beauty and complexity of the world around you by unleashing the power of art as you satisfy your wanderlust.

Read sample here.

Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond is available at Amazon.

Enjoy this guest post:

Crossing Cultures Through Food - by Evy Journey

How many ways can you get to know a culture different from that in which you grew up? One way is through cuisine—usually a delicious, pleasant, and painless way of immersing yourself in an otherwise strange culture, if you don’t balk at trying unusual foods. Because I’ve experienced various cultures, I am fairly adventurous about food. And I’ve learned that we bring our life histories into any experience—whether it’s about food or any other foreign tradition.

I love many things Japanese. The food, the architecture of traditional Japanese homes, some of their cultural values (respect for elders, for instance). We've added a few Japanese touches to our home, and we’ve traveled to different cities in Japan, a cinch on their Shinkansen which is faster than the French TGV (train de grande vitesse—speed train). Nothing in this high-tech, car-obsessed culture of ours matches either one of these train systems. That fact, in itself, tells us something about culture and society. What we value more, for instance.

I have to admit, though, that I know little about Japanese farms and indigenous Japanese culture except for the little bit I've seen in movies. So, I’ve turned to reading books that dig into this subject—like Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Singleton Hachisu, a professional teacher/chef married to a modern Japanese farmer. It gives an intimate look into one Japanese farm and how the family living in it eats to live—a fact that’s helpful to keep in mind. Translating a dish from one country to another, or executing anyone’s recipe in your own kitchen never really produces exactly the same result. So many things can change your final dish.

I ate things I was familiar with when I was in Japan, but I tasted soft tofu served at a mountain buddhist retreat that was like nothing I’ve had before. It looked like regular tofu, but creamier, more like custard in taste and feel on your tongue. I’ve looked, in vain, for something like it at home.

Then, there’s unagi (eel)—that long slender fish that looks like a slithering snake as it swims in the water. In some restaurants in Japan, they kept live eels in tanks, ready to be fished out when customers ordered them. At home, I’ve only had pieces of seasoned cooked unagi served on top of a clump or bowl of tangy salty-sweet rice.

Like everyone, my husband and I have food preferences and prejudices, shaped by the culture in which we grew up. And neither of us could speak Japanese. We didn’t ask to try the eel.

This American chef/author moved to Japan equipped with the sensibility advocated by California food guru Alice Waters, one much like the French concept of terroir―organic, as close to the source as you can get, and simple preparations that make main ingredients shine. These are practices easy to adapt to the ingredients and techniques of a Japanese farm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Evy Journey writes. Stories. Blogs (three sites). Cross-genre novels. She’s also a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse (an ambler).

Evy studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois) initially to help her understand herself and Dostoevsky. Now, she spins tales about nuanced multicultural characters negotiating separate realities. She believes in love and its many faces.

Just as she has crossed genres in writing fiction, she has also crossed cultures, having lived and traveled in various cities in different countries. Find her thoughts on travel, art, and food at Artsy Rambler.
She has one ungranted wish: to live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She visits and stays a few months when she can.